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CNN Live At Daybreak

Replacement Tires on Ford Explorers Could Be More Dangerous Than Firestones

Aired June 20, 2001 - 08:06   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Lawmakers investigating Firestone tires and Ford Explorers could get some important data today. A Transportation Department official is promising to reveal failure rate numbers for the tires Ford is using in place of Firestones.

That issue yielded some surprises at yesterday's House hearing as Patty Davis reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Linda Kane of Stoughton, Massachusetts just replaced the Firestone tires on their Ford Explorer, but now word their new Goodyear tires may not be safe either, just as they're about to take a 600-mile drive.

LINDA KANE, FORD EXPLORER OWNER: Now that I have my new tires, I still have the worry.

DAVIS: Congressional investigators say that tires Ford recently told Explorer owners to use to replace Firestone may have problems of their own.

REP. BILLY TAUZIN (R), LOUISIANA: Ford is going to replace these recalled tires with tires that have a worst claims history than some of the tires that are coming off the Explorers.

DAVIS: Tauzin, who conceived his information is incomplete, wants federal investigators to weigh in on any safety concerns in 30 days. Ford's CEO said this is the first he'd heard of it.

JACQUES NASSER, CEO, FORD MOTOR COMPANY: Mr. Chairman, we shouldn't be waiting 30 days. If that data is accurate, we should be acting in 30 minutes.

DAVIS: Investigators tell CNN the tires include Continentals, General Grabber, and Goodyear's Wrangler HT. A spokesman says Goodyear's tire is safe. There were no injuries and no fatalities that we're aware of associated with these claims.

Continental said it hadn't yet seen the data. Experts say consumers worried about tread separation should watch for these signs.

STEVE ROBAIR, MANAGER, D&D TIRES: For a ride that's not as smooth, if you're getting some trouble in your ride, you're getting a vibration, you're getting a shaking, you know, those are things to be concerned about. Get them checked out.

DAVIS: The Kanes say with all the confusion, they don't feel as safe driving their Explorer.

KANE: I trust Ford's judgment that they're going to put on safe tires for me, and now I'm not so sure.

DAVIS (on camera): But tires may not be the only concern of Explorer owners. Federal safety regulators are considering requests by Firestone and Chairman Tauzin to investigate whether the Ford Explorer itself is safe.

Patty Davis, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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